Channel 4 is closing its youth channel E4 for one day as the country goes to the polls in an effort to persuade young people to vote.

The channel, home to shows including Made In Chelsea and The Big Bang Theory, will close from 7am when polling stations open until 7pm.

Viewers tuning in will be introduced to a character called Darren sitting in the channel's control room having turned it off.

Channel 4's Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Dan Brooke said: "Less than half of under-25s voted at the last election so we've engaged the most powerful weapon that we have at our disposal to try and boost that number - switching off their favourite TV channel for the day!"